Broke my back today!

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Sumbeetch this hurts. Just back from the ER.

Took the wife up for what was supposed to be a fun day of spring snowmobile riding. Hit the old fun spot and I went barreling out across the flat as usual... was pushing 70 mph when I suddenly I hit a 4-5ft deep depression and was ejected. Did 3 revolutions through the air, head over heels landing on my shoulders every time around. Came to a stop about 150ft from where I left the sled. A torn off glove was at the 50ft mark... sled stopped unharmed about 600ft away. Visor was ripped off my helmet.

Laid there in the snow for 5 min in pain trying to get my wind back... my wife rode up and I told her to go get my sled as it had a longer seat to lay on. Laid down for 10 min before I felt ok enough to sit up. Oddly I couldnt see out of my right eye for a few min after the wreck, everything was pure white!

A couple riders came past and we flagged them down (I didnt know if my wife could pull start the sleds so I thought i would ask them to help start'em back up). It was another couple out riding, that wife had some tylenol so I popped 4 and with sled started, I started slowly on the 4 mile ride through woop-dee-doos back to the parking lot. From there straight to the ER.

Luckily nothing major broken, other than a compression fracture in my back. Hurts like you cant believe but they said its something that will heal on its own in time so lucky me, no surgery! My arm got wrenched around and I think I have some sprained tendons but I can live with it.

Moral of the story, you hear it a bunch of times but I'll say it again: BE CAREFUL OUT THERE DAMNIT! Just when you think you are the safest you should really re-examine the situation cuz you prolly arent Razz

Anywho it was a marvelous day before this season-ender happened. Ah well, could have been much much worse. Be safe everyone!

-DallanC

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Ouch!

Hope it gets better quickly! Smile

Dimitri

Morax · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

GEEZE Dallan!! glad you are alive and kicking bud, tomarrow yer gonna be feeling it!! at least you had the right protection on for what you was doing!! i was laid up for a full year with two disks blown putting pressure on the sciatic nerve so i know how you are feeling my friend! heres to a speedy recovery to you, and next time send the wife through first! hehehheh (dont let her read that) hahha heal well brother!

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

Dallan, glad it wasn't more serious! Hope you heal up fast.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

Damn Dallan that sucks. I'm glad your gonna come out of it with only minor Injurys it sounds like it coulda bin a lot worse. Hang in there buddy.
joe

WileyWapiti · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

hang in there, I hope you heal up fast and get back at it.

Doublejs · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

Thank God you aren't worse off.
We'll keep you in our prayers.
Hope you get feeling better quick.

ElyBoy · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

Never wrecked myself snowmobiling Dallan, but when downhill skiing, come midday, would go to the warming house for some "refreshments".
THAT is when it got interesting.
Had a bunch of wipeouts like you had, but when full of Yukon Jack, my body was loose, and never got even a bruise.

Hope you get better fast, and if you intend to do this again, take some Uncle Jack to loosen up the muscles.

Eric Very Happy

1895ss · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

I hope you heal quick Dallan. I know just how fast those snowmobiling accidents can happen. Things come up real quick at 70 plus mph on a sled. I've been in my share of sledding mishaps over the years.

Good thing you weren't out alone.

OntheLasGallinas · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

Dallan,

I hope you make a quick recovery. Sometimes we think we're 10 foot tall and bullet proof, but we never are.

Get well soon.

Cary

Vince · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

Dallan Stunt Rider C wrote:

I went barreling out across the flat as usual... was pushing 70 mph when I suddenly I hit a 4-5ft deep depression and was ejected. Did 3 revolutions through the air, head over heels landing on my shoulders every time around. Came to a stop about 150ft from where I left the sled. A torn off glove was at the 50ft mark... sled stopped unharmed about 600ft away. Visor was ripped off my helmet.

Laid there in the snow for 5 min in pain trying to get my wind back.

70mph

mate, that sounds a little dang-gerous. From your description of your little sojourn off into the wild blue and white you are damn lucky to even be here mate.

Did they tell you what vertebrae you have injured?

Like Morax...I too carry a back injury and know just how painful and debilitating they can be. Best advice I can give you mate is DON'T overdo ANYTHING until you and the Dr are 110% sure that everything is healed. Part of the reason I have the back problems I do now is becaue I was "tough" and ignored the problem....sure it eventually settled down, but it never went away and won't now.

Look after yourself mate, and when you feel like you are bludging on your family or not pulling your weight, step back and remember "110% sure" that things have totally healed...that way you will be ok in years to come.

Cheers, Vince

twofifty · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

Dallan, that's gotta hurt!

After getting checked out by the hospital emerg. dept., you ought to spend the money and see a specialist. Someone who specializes in spine injuries. Once the swelling is down some, also get assessed by a chiropractor or physiotherapist. Hold off on treatment until you get the total picture. Best is if these professionals share your info and come up with a course of therapy.

Reason I'm chiming in with unsolicited advice is that I've been there-done that and should have gotten more professional advice when I broke my back.

Good recovery.
p.s. must be nice to have a wife that keeps herself together in a wilderness emergency.

tikkat3 · Super Member Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800

Get well soon Dallan.
Hope you had clean undies on.

Arron · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:30 am Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

Good Gravy, MAN!!!! You are really lucky you "rolled" but it is a wonder you didn't damage your neck or smash your melon! Especially if you landed on your shoulders. All I can say is WOW!!! Definately get second opinions well worth the money in the long run. My wife would have just laughed at me for doing something bad to myself until she realized I was in bad shape, then I am not sure just what she would do.

Rest easy and catch up the hunting and fishing shows, when you get the chance. Best wishes for as pain free a recovery as you can have.

Morax · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:07 am Post subject: Re: Broke my back today!

tikkat3 wrote:

Get well soon Dallan.
Hope you had clean undies on.

after the crash he had i really dont think it woulda mattered!!

as been stated by others YES get a few opinions from docs on it.. i had one guy wanted to cut me right away, i thankfully talked to someone else and it took a bit longer but i feel better and and can do 99% of what i used to without being cut.... was it 1895 that said we think we are 10 foot and bulletproof, what do ya mean THINK hahahhaha for us its just that the last thing to mature is the pain receptors in the brain....